The Significance of Biology for Human Development: A Developmental Psychobiological Systems View

Special Issue Introduction: The Meaning and Measurement of Thriving: A View of the Issues

“…As discussed elsewhere, (e.g., Lerner 2009;Lerner et al 2010a;Lerner and Steinberg 2009) the roots of the PYD perspective are found in the work of comparative psychologists (e.g., Gottlieb et al 2006;Schneirla 1957) andbiologists (e.g., Novikoff 1945a, b;von Bertalanffy 1933) who had been studying the plasticity of developmental processes that arose from the ''fusion'' (i.e., the reciprocally influential, systematic integration; Tobach and Greenberg 1984) of biological and contextual levels of organization. The ideas of fusion and of plasticity derive from what we have noted is the cutting-edge focus of contemporary, developmental theory-on the relational developmental system, that is, on the mutually influential relations between the developing individual and his/her ecology (Lerner 2006;Overton 2006Overton , 2010b.…”

“…As noted, the importance of ideas about multiple levels of organization (those within the individual, such as physiology or cognition and those in the ecology, such as the family, educational institutions, and historical events) acting together to shape the nature and positive or negative direction of development across life arose in the study of biology and of non-human species (e.g., Gottlieb et al 2006;Tobach and Schneirla 1968). However, these ideas began to impact the human developmental sciences in the 1970s (Cairns and Cairns 2006;Gottlieb et al 2006;Lerner 2002Lerner , 2006Overton 2006).…”

“…However, these ideas began to impact the human developmental sciences in the 1970s (Cairns and Cairns 2006;Gottlieb et al 2006;Lerner 2002Lerner , 2006Overton 2006). Examples of this influence are the theoretical papers by Overton (1973) and by Lerner (1978) that discussed the nature-nurture controversy.…”

Sensory Integration and the Perceptual Experience of Persons with Autism

“…The debate about abnormalities in top down vs. bottom up processing in autism is quelled by a more systems-based approach to the development of perception according to which the assessment of any perceptual ability involves identifying the level at which specific processes affect perceptual development and analyzing the essential aspects (i.e., interdependency and relations among the processes) that give meaning to the overall system that is developing (Gottlieb, Wahlsten, & Lickliter, 1998;Thelen & Smith, 1994). What emerges is the recognition that a precise and detailed understanding of the components of the perceptual system is necessary but not sufficient.…”

Subsídios para uma leitura desenvolvimental do processo de envelhecimento

“…Esta aproximação tem-se revelado extremamente útil na procura de respostas para alguns temas relevantes no estudo do desenvolvimento humano. Ao encarar o desenvolvimento como um fenómeno biopsicossocial, que envolve e incorpora níveis de organização muito diversos entre si, da biologia (Gottlieb, Wahlsten & Lickliter, 2006) e genética (Overton, 2003) às dinâmicas histórica e sociocultural (Elder & Shanahan, 2006), o paradigma contextualista assume-se como uma importante base teórica e metodológica para a descrição e, sobretudo, para a explicação da variabilidade inter-individual e da plasticidade intra-individual ao longo da vida humana.…”